Telephone alarm system

ABSTRACT

An alarm system is disclosed having a condition responsive means therein which completes a circuit through a telephone and an auxiliary telephone ringing power supply upon the occurrence of an alarm condition. The circuit includes an interrupter to cause the telephone to ring in response to the alarm condition.

United States Patent [191' Stendig et al.

Apr. 2, 1974 340/220 340/416 Coffer ct 340/409 Goodwin et al.

Block ct al......

[22] Flled: 1972 Primary ExaminerDavid L. Trafton Appl. N0.: 296,612

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Anthony A. OBrien Related US. Application DataContinuation-in-part of Ser. No'. 209,180, Dec. 17,

ABSTRACT 1971, abandoned.

An alarm system is disclosed having a condition re- I [52] US. 340/220,179/5 R, 340/227 R, 340/276, 340/416 sponsive means therein whichcompletes a circuit through a telephone and an auxiliary telephoneringing power supply upon the occurrence of an alarm [51] Int. Cl. G08b19/00 0 M2 2 O6 41 34 ;W A4 3 R 5 9 7 l h c r a e S Cl 0 d l e i F N 5condition. The circuit includes an interrupter to cause the telephone toring in response to the alann condition.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McBrien et a].

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 0 3 4 3 a w t w 3 r ll I am n) H mm s O WW05 0C T 6 WM 3 ws O OPERATOR SWITCH BOARD SMOKE oe'rscron i TELEPHONEALARM SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is acontinuation-impart of copending application Ser. No. 209,180 filed Dec.17, 1971.-

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention pertains to security systems and more particularlyto a security system especially suited for use with a telephone systemto provide distinct alarm indications of unauthorized entry, burglary,fire and/or smoke from a number of spaced points or locations within anarea servicedby the telephone system.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

People in this and other countries are becomming increasingly concernedabout personal safety and the security of their homes and businesses.This concern can be appreciated from the number of presently availableelectronic security systems which range in sophistication from simpledoor-tripped alarm devices to complex computer-monitored networks andwhich areall, in some degree, enjoying widespread commercial acceptance.More than the individual,the businessman realizes that it is becommingeconomically necessary to check in, drive away from the motel office tothe door of his room, disconnect and remove the television set inprivacy, and abscond undetected within a matter of minutes.

Past activity in this field has outlines certain'minimal criteria whichmust be met in the design of an effective security system. For instance,the system must be capable of promptly detecting an unauthorized entry,and more importantly, the theft of expensive appliances such astelevisions, radios and the like. The system must also be capable ofconcealment both to prevent evasion and, in the case of motels,hospitals, etc., to avoid calling attention to the existance of a crimethreat. It isalso critical that the system design be simple andfoolproof to minimize the occurrence of false alarms, to reduce initialcost and maintenance outlays, and to reduce the wiring necessary toinstall the system in existing facilities.

The prior art, as exemplified by U. 8. Pat. No. 3,114,904, No.3,411,150, and No. 3,484,775, is generally cognizant of security systemsutilizing alarm indications upon the theft of an electrical appliance.However, systems of this general type have not proven fully satisfactorysince they'are complex and expensive, tend to require frequentmaintenance, utilize recognizable, non-conventional components and thusmay be easilydetected and avoided by a thief, anddo not provideintegrated protection for unauthorized entry, burglary, fire and/orsmoke.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of thepresent invention to construct a security system utilizing a standardtelephone to alert the premises in the event of a crime (e.g., burglary)and/or a disaster (e.g., fire).

The present invention is summarized in an alarm system including acondition responsive means having a pair of terminals and a' conditionresponsive switch therebetween, a telephone ringing current supplyserially connected with the pair of terminals of the conditionresponsive means, and means connecting the lines of a telephone acrossthe serially connected condition responsive means and current supply tothereby enable the telephone to ring as an alarm indication upon closureof the condition responsive switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a security system capableof providing alarm indications at either a local telephone or a remotelylocated switchboard.

Still another object of this invention is to construct an inexpensive,concealed security system capable of providing alarm indications ofburglary, unauthorized entry, fire and/or smoke. 1

Another object of this invention is to construct a security system inwhich the removal of a standard twoprong a.c. plug from a conventionala.c. wall receptacle may be monitored in concealment over localtelephone lines.

This invention hasa further object in that a concealed security systemis used with a local telephone system to alert the telephone operator ofthe occurrence of a crime (e.g., burglary) and a disaster (e.g-., fire)by distinct alann signals.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view inpartial perspective of a motel illustrating the use of a securitysystem-according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram partially in block form of a preferredembodiment of the security system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a sectional view of a monitored receptacle of the securitysystem with a conventional plug inserted therein; I j

FIG. 3b is aview similar to FIG; 3 with the plug removed from'therecepta'cle; j

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a trip-switch of the securitysystem; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram partially in block form of anotherembodiment of a security system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS factories, offices, hospitalsand private residences and is shown and described herein in connectionwith a motel for exemplary purposes only. Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown diagrammatically a central office 10 of 'a motel or hotel having aplurality of individual rooms 12 each including a conventional telephone14 which is connected through a wall-box l6 and a pair of leads l8 and20 to an operators console 22 located in the office 10. The operatorsconsole may be of any suitable design and includes a control panel orswitchboard 24 which may be provided with appropriate telephone switchesor plug cords to enable the operator to interconnect the line pair foreach room to outside telephone lines or to other inside line pairs asrequired. The particular structural configuration of the variousswitching networks of console 22 is well known and thus need not bedescribed in detail for the sake of brevity.

Control panel 24 is also provided with a bank of lamps 26 eachcorresponding to a room or individual telephone extension to provide avisual indication each time the handset of one of the telephones 14 islifted from the cradle.

In each of the rooms 12, any number of electrical appliances may beprovided such as a television set 28. Television set 28 receivesoperating potential via power line 30 which is terminated in a standardtwo-prong a.c. plug 32 adapted to cooperate with an a.c. outlet 34. Alsolocated in each room 12 is a door trip-switch 36 mounted to the frame ofdoor 37such that the switch will be tripped to an electrically closedposition whenever door 37 is opened. Likewise, a window trip-switch 38is disposed on the frame of upper windowsection 39 and a second windowtrip-switch 40 is similarly located relative to lower window section 41.A thermostat 42, which maybe adjustably preset to respond to apredetermined excessive temperature, may be mounted in any desiredlocation on the wall of room 12 and is preferably attached abovetelephone wall-box 16 as illustrated. Similarly, a smoke detector 44 islocated on the wall of room 12 above wall-box 16. It is noted that smokedetector 44 may be of any suitable type, such as anelectrostatieparticle detector, adapted to detect the presence of smokewithin room 12 and close a set of electrical contacts in responsethereto. Since smoke detectors of this general type are well known, thestructural details of detector 44 will not be described herein for thesake of brevity.

Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of the security systemof FIG. 1, the switchboard 24 of the operators console 22 is connectedto at least one leased public telephone line 46 and includes a suitableheadset 48 to enable the operator to monitor'the telephones 14 in eachroom 12. Each of the lamps 26 is connected through switchboard 24 to asource of operating potential such as battery 50 which is returned toground as shown; Lamps 26 are all normally connected with battery 50with the connection therebetween controlled by switchboard 24 such thatthe operator, for example, may disconnect or by-pass each lamp toconnect any of the telephones 14 directly with an outside line 46 oranother inside line pair 18-20 as desired.

Each of the lamps 26 is also connected with line of a respective one ofthe line pairs for telephones 14 via a cable 52, with line 18 from allof the telephones connected in common. In this manner,the lifting of thehandset of any one telephone 14 completes a current path between lines18 and 20, as is well known, to enable energization of the lamp 26corresponding to the room where that telephone is located. The operatorthereafter responds to the call by connecting headset 48 across lines18-20 for the indicated room telephone and acknowledging the callersrequest.

Thermostat 42 includes a bimetal 54 connected to a lead 56 and havingone end fixed in place and the other end movable relative thereto withheat. A fixed contact 58 connected to a lead 60 is adapted to cooperatewith bimetal 54 to provide a heat-responsive switch. Bimetal 54 isdisposed such that it is normally remote from contact 58 to form an opencircuit and responds to an increase in heat to engage contact 58. Thetemperature at which bimetal 54 engages contact 58 is preselectable by ascrew 62 which is threadedly mounted in a support member 64 and isadapted to engage an intermediate point on the surface of bimetal 54 forrepositioning the same relative to contact 58. A knob 66 is affixed tothe upper end of screw 62 for cooperation with a calibrated scale.

Smoke detector 44 is operatively connected with a set of contacts 68,with the contacts normally open, as shown, and adapted to be closed bythe smoke detector 44 whenever smoke is present in room 12. Contacts 68are connected between leads 56 and 60 in parallel with thermostat 42,and leads 56 and 60 are in turn con nected with telephone lines 18 and20, respectively, in parallel with the telephone 14.

The door trip-switch 36 is connected between a pair of leads 70 and 72,with window switches 38 and 40 connected in parallel thereacross. Lead70 is directly connected with telephone line 18 and lead 72 is connectedwith telephone line 16 through a flasher device schematically shown at74. Flasher 74 may be of any suitable type which has a preselectedfrequency of operation and, for example, may include a bimetal 76 whichis normally in engagement with a fixed contact 78 and is adapted to moveaway from contact 78 upon self-heating.

Power receptacle 34 of the security system of the present inventionincludes a pair of contact terminals 80 and 82 which are connected bylines 84 and 86, respectively, to a source of alternating currentrepresented schematically by terminals 88. Affixed to a rear surface ofreceptacle 34 is a single-pole, single-throw microswitch which isresponsive to insertion and removal of plug 32 and will be describedmore-fully below. Microswitch 90 is connected in parallel with telephone14 by leads 92 and 94 which are respectively connecteclwith lines 18 and20, the latter connection being through a flasher 96. Flasher 96 issimilar to flasher 74 and includes a self-heating bimetal 98 whichcooperates with a fixed contact 100; however, flasher 96 operates at afrequency which is different from that of flasher 74.

Referring to FIGS; 3a and 3b, receptacle 34 includes a pair ofspaced,parallel plug-prong receiving slots 102 and 104 and a pair of contactblades 106 and 108 which are partially folded over upon themselves toextend partially into slots 102 and 104, respectively. Contact blades106 and 108 are electrically interconnected internally of the receptacle34 with terminals 82 and 84 to feed operating potential from source 88to plug 32 via prongs 110 and 112.

Slot 102 of receptacle 34 extends completely therethrough by means of anaperture 114 in a rear wall of the receptacle. As shown in FIGS. 3a and3b, microswitch 90 has an actuating arm 116 extending therefrom and ismounted on receptacle 34 such that arm 116 extends through aperture 114into slot 102. Arm 116 is biased outwardly of switch 90 and is adaptedto be engaged by prong 110 of plug 32 and moved linearly thereby alongthe elongated axis of slot 102. Also, microswitch 90 is constructed suchthat it assumes an open state whenever plug 32 has been inserted intothe receptacle 34 as is shown in FIG. 3a and is actuated to a closedstate upon removal of the plug 32 as is shown in FIG. 3b.

Receptacle 34 and switch 90 are mounted in a conventional wall-box 118,and a cover plate 120 is suitably secured to the receptacle to close box118 in the conventional manner. It can be appreciated that the existanceof microswitch 90 cannot be detected without removing plug 32 and wallplate 120 since plug 32 is of conventional design and the outwardappearance of receptacle 34 is identical to that of any ordinary,unprotected or unmonitored outlet.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, door trip-switch 36 includes a hollowrectangular body in which is mounted a first L-shaped contact member 122having a contact 124 disposed on the end of the shorter arm thereof anda second L-shaped contact member 126 having a resilient contact arm 128which carries a contact 130 on an offset distal end for cooperation withcontact 124. A lever 132 is pivotally mounted onto the body of theswitch for movement between a standby position as illustrated-and atripped or released position (shown in dashed lines) within arectangular channel 134. As can be seen in FIG. 4, lever 132 has acamming surface 136 formed at its proximal end to coact with contact arm128 such that contacts 124 and 130 are separate from each other whenlever 132 is in its standby position and move into engagement with lever132 is rotated into the channel 134. Due to the construction of cammingsurface 136 and channel 134, once lever 132 is moved slightly in thedirection of the-arrow in FIG. 4, it snaps into the channel to closecontacts 124 and 130 and cannot be readily reset due to its recessedposition when tripped in channel 134. It should be understood that thedetails of switch 36 shown in FIG. 4 are merely exemplary of the generaltype of switch which may be utilized in the security system of thepresent invention and that switches 38 and 40 may be of similarconstruction.

The security system embodiment of FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 2 inthat each motel room contains a telephone 210 having lines 212 and 214connected to terminals ofa wall box 216 located on a wall near thetelephone 210. The terminals of the wall box 216 have a pair of outgoinglines 218 and 220 which-terminate at a switchboard 222 located at acentral office. The switchboard 222 includes a switchboard exchange 224and a plurality of lamps 226 which are individually illuminatedb'y-current flow from a source of operating potential such as battery228 whenever a switch (not shown) is closed by lifting the handset oftelephone 210 to thereby provide a visual indication to the switchboardoperator. The switchboard 222 is connected to at least one set of publictelephone lines 230 which are selectively connectable to telephone 210through the phone line 214 through a terminal of the wall box 216 andthe other side connected to a contact of a double pole double throwswitch 242 through line 244. An adjacent contact of the double poledouble throw switch 242 is coupled back to phone line 214 through anintermittent line interrupter or flasher 246 and a telephone handsetresponsive switch 248. The interrupter 246 is preferably of the thermalresponsive type like flashers 74 and 96 but it may be any other suitabletype capable of intermittently opening such as a motor driven type. Thedouble pole double throw switch 242 includes a pair of common orarmature contacts having a pair of lines 250 and 252 coupled theretowhich have a plurality of diverse condition responsive systems connectedthereacross.

A thermostat 254 which may be of the type described in FIG. 2, isnormally mounted on a wall of the motel room and includes a bimetal 256connected to a lead 258 and having one end fixed in place and the otherend movable relative thereto in response to the application of heat. Afixed contact 260 connected to a lead 262 is adapted to cooperate withbimetal 256 to provide a heat-responsive switch. Bimetal 256 is disposedsuch that it is normally remote from contact 260 to form an open circuitand responds to an increase in heat to engage contact 260. Thetemperature at which bimetal 256 engages contact 260 is preselectable bya screw 264 which is threadedly mounted in a support member 266 and isadapted to engage an intermediate point on the surface of bimetal 256for repositioning the same relative to contact 260. A knob 268 isaffixed I to the upper end of screws 264 for cooperation with acalibrated scale.

Smoke detector 270, which also may be of the type described in FIG. 2,is normally wall mounted like the thermostat and is operativelyconnected with a set of contacts 272, with the contacts normally open,as shown, and adapted to be closed by the smoke detector 270 wheneversmoke is present in the motel room.

. Contacts'272 are connected between leads 258 and switchboard exchange224. The switchboard 222 additionally includes a suitable headset 232 toenable the switchboard operator to monitor the telephones 210 in eachmotel room.

An a.c. power receptacle box 234 which is preferably mounted on a wallin the motel room near the wall box 216 contains a transformer 236therein having its pri- 262 are in turn connected with lines 250 and 252respectively.

j A door trip-switch 274 is connected between a pair of leads 276 and278 with window switches 280 and 282 connected in parallel thereacross.The door and window switches which are affixed to inner door and windowframes respectively in the motel room, may be of the type shown in FIG.4. Lead 276 is directly connected with line 250 and leas 278 isconnected with line 252 through a flasher device schematically shown at284 which may be of the type described with respect to FIG. 2.

A power receptacle 290 of the security system of the present inventionwhich may be of the type shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b includes a pair ofelectrically insulated contact terminals 292 which are connected bylines 294 and 296, respectively, to a source of alternating currentrepresented schematically by terminals298. Affixed to a rear surface ofreceptacle 290 is a singlepole, single-throw microswitch 300 which isresponsive to insertion and removal of plug 302. Microswitch 300 isconnected by leads 304 and 306 to lines 250 and 252, the latterconnection being through a flasher 308. Flasher 308 is similar toflasher 284 and includes a selfheating bimetal 310 which cooperates witha fixed contact 312; however, flasher 308 operates at a frequency whichis different from that of the flasher 284.

The double pole double throw switch 242 has two remaining contacts whichhave a pair of lines 314 and 316 extending therefrom back to theswitchboard 222. Lines 314 and 316 are connected to one of a pluralityof lamps 318 mounted on the switchboard 222 through a power supply shownas a battery 320, the remaining lamps being similarly connected to otherroom alarm systems which have not been shown for the sake of clarity.

in operation of the system of FIG. 2, normally all of the switches inthe system are open and telephone 14 is not in use. Thus, lines 18 and20 are open and lamp 26 is deenergized. Should one desire to place acall, the

removal of the telephone handset connects lines 18 and 20 of the callersroom to complete a current path from ground through battery 50,switchboard 24, lamp 26 corresponding to that room, and telephone 14back to ground. The operator at console 22 is therefore notifled of theremoval of the-handset by the energized lamp 26 and thereafter connectsheadset 48 with lines 18 and 20 to receive instructions from the callingparty.

A similar sequence follows in the event of a fire or usually hightemperature in the room since the thermostat 42 or smoke detector 44detects such condition and again shorts outlines l8 and 20. However,following the ignition of lamp 26 in response to actuation of thermostat42 or smoke detector 44, the operator upon responding to the signal fromlamp 26 hears no sound whatsoever because of the short circuit acrossthe telephone line. Thus,'the operator would immediately recognizethat'a fire or smoke existsin the particular identified room.

1n the case of an unauthorized entry, one or more of switches 36, 38 and40 would be tripped thereby connecting flasher 74 across the telephonelines 18 and 20. The current from battery 50 would thus flow through theflasher which causes a periodic interruption of the short across lines18 and 20 such that lamp 26 blinks onand off at a recognizablefrequency. The operator isin this way immediately signalled of theoccurrence of an unauthorized entry. Likewise, removal of the plug 32 oftelevision 28 from the receptacle 32,'from the position shown in FIG. 3areleases actuating arm 116 which moves into slot 102 causing switch 90to become closed. This results in the connection of flasher 86 acrossthe telephone line producing periodic energization oflamp 26 at a raterecognizably different from the rate of flasher 74. The operator is thusreadily apprised of the unauthorized removal of the television set 28from the room.

In operation of the security system embodiment of FIG. 5, the doublepole double throw switch 242 will either be positioned to enable thelocal telephone 210 or the remote switchboard 222 as the alarm indicatorupon the occurrence of an alarm condition. The operation will first bediscussed with the remote switchboard 222 connected into the system bythe double pole double throw switch 242, that is, with the common orarmature contacts connected to the lowermost contact pair having lines314 and 316 connected thereto. All of the switches in the system arenormally open except for the telephone handset responsive switch 248which remains closed until the telephone handset is removed from itscradle. However, this switch is functionless to that shown in FIG. 3b,

when the remote switchboard 222 is selected to provide the alarmindication due to an open circuit existing in the line having the phoneswitch therein.

Should a motel room occupant desire to place a call, the removal of thetelephone handset connects lines 212 and 214 of the callers room tolines 220 and 218,

respectively, to complete a current path through battery 228,switchboard exchange 224, lamp 226 corresponding to that room, and backto telephone 210. The operator at the switchboard 222 is thereforenotified of the removal of the handset by the energized lamp 226 andthereafter connects headset 232 with lines 218 and 220 to receiveinstructions from the calling party.

With each of the condition responsive circuits connected to theswitchboard, in the event of a fire or unusually high temperature in theroom thethermostat 254 or smoke detector 270 detects such condition andcloses switches 256 and/or 272 to thereby short out lines 250 and 252completing the circuit to lamp 318 to appraise the switchboard operatorof trouble by its being illuminated continuously during the trouble.

In the case of an unauthorized entry, one or more of the switches 274,280 and 282 would be tripped thereby connecting flasher 284 across thelines 50 and 52. The current from battery 320 would thus flow throughflasher 284 which causes periodic interruption of the short across lines257 and 259 such that lamp 318 blinks on and off at a recognizablefrequency. The operator is in this way immediately signalled of theoccurrence of an unauthorized entry. Likewise, removal of the plug 302from the receptacle 290, from the position shown in FIG. 3a to thatshown in FIG. 3b, releases actuating arm 340 which moves into slot 324causing switch 300 to become closed. This results in the connection offlasher 308 across lines 250 and 252 producing periodic energization oflamp 318 at a rate recognizably different from the rate of flasher 284.The operator is thus readily apprised of the unauthorized removal of theapplicance connected to plug 302 from the room.

1n the event that the local telephone 210 is to be utilized as-the alarmcondition indicator, the double pole double throw switch 242 is changedto engage the common or armature contacts with the uppermost pair ofcontacts. Closure of any of the condition'responsive system switcheswill again short lines 250 and 252 to now complete a circuit through thenormally closed telephone handset responsive switch 248 and interrupter246 to pre-charged capacitor 238 and back to the telephone 210through'lines 212. The heating of the interrupter 246 due to currentflow therethrough from capacitor 238 will cause it to temporarily opento thereby cause the telephone to ring. The frequency of operation ofthe interrupter 246 is an optional matter but it is preferable less thanthat of flashers 284 and 308 such that these higher frequency flasherswill dominate when an unauthorized entryor plug removal closes thecondition responsive circuits through either of them. Accordingly, ifthe telephone rings at the frequency of interrupter 246, this ringingwill then only be associated with the fire and/or smoke detector whichhas no flasher comparable to flashers 284 and 308, and readyidentifications of each alarm condition is possible. Thus, the capacitor238 tends to discharge through this circuit causing intermittent openingand closing of the interrupter 246 or either of flashers 284 and 308 asdiscussed above and effecting an intermittent ringing of the telephonein accordance therewith. The capacitor 238 is continually replenished bythe a.c. supply through transformer 236 and diode 240 to provide acontinuous supply of voltage for ringing telephone 210 upon theoccurrance of interrupter 246 opening.

Thus, it can be appreciated that the security system according to thepresent invention is capable of readily and accurately notifying, eitherby a local telephone or remote switchboard monitor, as to the occurrenceof various alarm conditions at any number of spaced locations.

The present invention has a .number of distinct advantages in that thereceptacles present the outward appearance of a conventional,unmonitored a.c. outlet, do not require the use of other than a standardtwoprong a.c. plug and do not rely upon the lateral flexure of one orboth of the contact blades for actuation of an alarm switch; that themicroswit'ches are structurally independent unit from the receptaclesand thus may be replaced separately therefrom the event of a failure;that alarm signals for fire and smoke and for burglary or unauthorizedentry and distinct and readily identifiable; and that a complete orintegrated security system is simple, reliableand compatible for usewith local telephone systems to reduce or minimize wiring.

The present invention has added advantages in the use of a localtelephone as an alarm indicator; and in the provision of the alternatealarm circuits to enable either an alarm over a local telephone or overa remotely located switch board.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is: I 1. In a telephone system including an operabletelephone, an alarm system comprising:

a condition responsive switch meanswhich closes in response to an alarmcondition;

an auxiliary telephone ringing power supply;

means connecting the telephone in a series circuit with the conditionresponsive switch means and the auxiliary telephone ringing power supplyto thereby establish current flow therethrough during closure of thecondition responsive switch means; and

10 intermittent interrupter means connected in said series circuit forintermittently open circuiting same during closure of the conditionresponsive switch means to thereby ring the telephone as an alarmindication.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary telephone ringingpower supply includes a capacitor serially connected with the conditionresponsive switch means and a rectifier means for charging thecapacitor.

3. The invention of claim 2 including an energized a.c. receptacle boxconnected to the rectifier means for charging said capacitor.

4. The invention of claim 3 including an isolation transformer fortransmitting a signal from the a.c. receptacle box to the rectifiermeans.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the isolation transformer isretained by said receptacle box.

6. The invention of claim 2 including a telephone wall box locatedproximate the telephone and wherein the capacitor and rectifier meansare contained within said telephone wall box.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the intermittent interrupter is athermally responsive type which opens upon being heated to apredetermined temperature due to current flow therethrough.

8. The invention of claim 1 including a remotely posiv tioned alarmcondition monitor, and switch means for selectively connecting thecondition responsive switch means to the remotely positioned alarmcondition monitor.

9. The invention of-claim 8 wherein the switch means disconnects thecondition responsive switch means from the telephone ringing currentsupply.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein the remotely positioned alarmcondition monitor includes a power supply and an illuminable indicator.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the remotely positioned alarmcondition monitor is a telephone switchboard which includes means forselectively connecting the telephone to outside telephone lines.

12. The invention of claim l including another condition responsiveswitch means in parallel with said condition responsive switch means,and a thermally responsive interrupter in series with said anothercondition responsive switch means.

1. In a telephone system including an operable telephone, an alarmsystem comprising: a condition responsive switch means which closes inresponse to an alarm condition; an auxiliary telephone ringing powersupply; means connecting the telephone in a series circuit with thecondition responsive switch means and the auxiliary telephone ringingpower supply to thereby establish current flow therethrough duringclosure of the condition responsive switch means; and intermittentinterrupter means connected in said series circuit for intermittentlyopen circuiting same during closure of the condition responsive switchmeans to thereby ring the telephone as an alarm indication.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary telephone ringing powersupply includes a capacitor serially connected with the conditionresponsive switch means and a rectifier means for charging thecapacitor.
 3. The invention of claim 2 including an energized a.c.receptacle box connected to the rectifier means for charging saidcapacitor.
 4. The invention of claim 3 including an isolationtransformer for transmitting a signal from the a.c. receptacle box tothe rectifier means.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the isolationtransformer is retained by said receptacle box.
 6. The invention ofclaim 2 including a telephone wall box located proximate the telephoneand wherein the capacitor and rectifier means are contained within saidtelephone wall box.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the intermittentinterrupter is a thermally responsive type which opens upon being heatedto a predetermined temperature due to current flow therethrough.
 8. Theinvention of claim 1 including a remotely positioned alarm conditionmonitor, and switch means for selectively connecting the conditionresponsive switch means to the remotely positioned alarm conditionmonitor.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the switch meansdisconnects the condition responsive switch means from the telephoneringing current supply.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein theremotely positioned alarm condition monitor includes a Power supply andan illuminable indicator.
 11. The invention of claim 10 wherein theremotely positioned alarm condition monitor is a telephone switchboardwhich includes means for selectively connecting the telephone to outsidetelephone lines.
 12. The invention of claim 1 including anothercondition responsive switch means in parallel with said conditionresponsive switch means, and a thermally responsive interrupter inseries with said another condition responsive switch means.